Safety switch stand



Aug. 2l, 1928.

1,681,475 P. FRANDSEN SAFETY SWITCH STAND Original Filed Feb. 5. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 21, 1928. '1,681,475

P. FRANDsEN SAFETY SWITCH STAND Original Filed Feb. 5. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wg. Z.

L30. /6/ /3 F/er Franc/sen, INVENToR.

/ l n AITTORNEY.

Aug. 2,1, 19,28. 1,681,475

P. FRANDSEN SAFETY SWITCH STAND,

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Feb. 5, 1926 Peer Fra/708e, INI/I'INTGR- il//ness s Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,475

P. FRANDSEN K SAFETY SWITCH STAND Original Filed Feb. 5, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNE Y.

Lil

Patented Aug. 2l, 1928.

y UNITED `STATES PETER FRANDSEN, OF MONETT, MISSOURI.

SAFETY SWITCH STAND. l

Application filed` February 5, `1926, Serial No. 86,287. Renewed November 14, 1927.

This invention relates broadly to new and useful improvements in railroad appliances and has more particular reference to a novel and simplified construction of switch stand.

An important object of the present invenof independent locking means so arranged that should one locking means become ineffective for any reason, the other locking i means will not in any way be affected thereb i Another object of the invention is .the provision of new and novel dual locking means for a switch Vstand of the nature stated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a switch st-and which while simple in construction, is nevertheless strong, sturdy and durable, one which is safe, effective and reliable in its operation and well designed for the purposes for which it is intended. y

lilith these and numerous other objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is afront view, in elevation, of a safety switch stand constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure' is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 4l is a sectional view on line 4*-4. of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional yiew on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 a top plan view of theibottom rotatable plate.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the disk adapted to rest upon the plate shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-*8 of Figure 1. p

Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of the signal standard7 per se.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration has been disclosed a prel ferred embodiment of the present invention, the improved switch stand-comprises a substantially rectangular base 10 from the opposite ends of which rise the upwardly eX- tending converging uprights or supports l1 and l2, the lower ends thereof being vprovided with the angularly directed feetlB by means of. which the saine may be securedr to .the said base through the medium of rail spikes or the like 14.

Carried by the upper ends of the sup- ]iorts 1l and 12 is the semi-circular support-` ing plate or platform 15, the curved edge thereof projecting forwardly beyond the said supports and being provided with Sll notches 16 and 17. By referring particu i larly to Figures 2 and 3, it will benoted that the rear straight edge of the platform l'terminates slightly inwardly of the rear edges of the supports 11and'12 and that secured to the said rear edge ofthe platform and also between the saidA supports, is a transverse brace 18, to the forward face of which is secured the horizontal bearing block 19. Also secured yto and extending,r between the said supports, intermediate the kupper and lower ends thereof is a second transverse brace 20. p K

Secured within the base 10 adjacent the rear edge thereof is the vertically disposed stub shaft 21 on which is mounted the circular plate 22, `shown in Figure (3, said platey adapted toy rest upon the base 10 and havingr a central opening for the reception of4 the said stud shaft and being secured thereon by means of the Cotter pin 23, a washer Q4 being arranged betweenthe said `'Cotter pin and the upper surface of the plate.

The edge of the plate 22 is formed with notches 25 `Vand 26 while the upper rsurface thereof is provided with the equally spaced, radially disposed lugs 27 having their side and end edges beveled as shown in the drawings, said vplate being so positioned on the base 10 that itprojects outwardly and rearwardly thereof. The projecting portion of the plate is provided with an opening 28 through which is inserted the vertical bolt 29 carried by the inner end of the pitman rod 30 which contacts with the bottom surface ot the plate 22, a nut 31 being threaded on the upper end of said bolt and held thereon by means of a eotter key 31 passing through the said bolt whereby to secure the pitman rod to the plate 22. The other end oi. the said rod 3() is adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway switch.

In Figure 'T is shown a disk 32 which is arranged to rest upon the plate 22 shown in Figure S, :said disk having the central enlarged cut-out portion 33 from which radiate the three equally spaced recesses 3ft adapted to receive the lugs 27 on the plate 22, the side faces oi the said recesses being beveled to snugly receive the beveled sides of the said lugs, the thickened portions 34 oi the disk 32 between the recesses 3l being adapted to rest upon the plate 22, between the lugs 27. Formed within the said disk 32 centrally of the cut-out portion 33 is the circular opening which is reduced and terminates in a square or angular opening 36 and the said disk may be further provided if desired, with a suitable4 oil hole 33.

Journaled within the brace 20, bearing block 19 and supporting plate 15 is the vertireceived within the angular opening 3G in the disk 32 whereby upon rotary movement ot' the shaft or standard 37, the disk 32 and plate 22 will also be caused to rotate.

Carried by standard 37 adjacent the angular end L thereof is an'annular collar 41 formed integral with the standard and pro vided on its under surface with the diametrieally extending beads 42 which are received within `similarly positioned grooves '-12 (see Figure in the upper surface of the reduced upper end 38 ot the disk 32.

Carried by the upper end portion of standard- 37 and resting on the said shaft or standardis an arm 43, the outer end portion thereof being formed with the vertically offset head il which extends slightly beyond the said platform and is bifurcated to provide the spaced lugs 45 and 46 between which is pivotally mounted, as at 47, the lever y18 which, when in its vertical position, is adapted to be received within either one of the notches 16 and 17 in the platform 15. The upper or inner end of the lever is beveled as at 49 and is adapted to engage the beveled end face 5() of the arm 43 when the said lever is swung into a horizontal position.

For the purpose of locking the lever 48 in its vertical position, there is secured to the forward edge thereof immediately adjacent its upper end an outwardly projecting eye member 51 which is adapted to pass through the vertical slot 52 in the plate 53 secured to the forward ends ot' the lugs 45 and 46. lVhen it is desired to lock the lever within either one of the slots 1G or 17, it is only necessaryfto engage a suitable padlock with the closed pin 51.

Secured to the base 10 directly in front of the platey 22 are the spaced longitudinally extending bearing blocks and 5G between which is positioned the latch member 57, the inner end ot which is adapted for selective engagement with the notches 25 and 2G in the plate 22 when the said plate is rotated. Passing through the bearing blocks 55 and 56 and also through the latch 57 is the longitudinally extending shaft 58, said latch being secured thereto by means of a suitable lock screw 59.

The said shaft 58 projects slightly beyond the outer end of the bearing block 55 and secured intermediate its ends to the extended portion oi said shaft as by means of the set screw (SO is an arm G1, provided. at its forward end with tbe touty engaging pedal (l2 while carried by the opposite end thereof is a weight G3 which normally rests upon the plate 22 and acts to retain the inner end ot the latch 57 in engagement with either one ot the notches 25 or 2G in the rotatable plate 22.

iks hereinabove stated. the pitmau rod 30 is adapted to be suitably connected lo the movable switch points of a railway switch so that upon reciprocal movement of the said rod. the switch will be thrown from one side to the other.

In the operation of the present invention. when it is desired to throw the switch and for the purpose of illustration. let us say to the left, the operator first steps upon and iorces the toot pedal G2 downwardly. thus causing the rotation of the, shalt with the result that the latch member 57 carried thereby will be moved upwardly and out of engagement with the notch 2G in the rotat able plate 22. As the operator holds the latch out oi engagement with the plate. be should grasp the lever i8 and swing the same outwardly and upwardlY about its pivot 47 until it assumes a horizontal position. When this has been done. the rotatable plate and the standard are free to rotate and this is accomplisheiil by simply moving the lever t8 to the right. The standard 37 will then be rotated and this rotation will be imparted to the plate 22 through the disk 32 as described hereinabove. This rotary movement will cause the pitinan rod 30 to be moved in the opposite direction or to the left and the movement ot thisapitman rod will act to cause the railway switch to be thrown and the position of the signal plate 3f) will indicate to the engineer ol the approaching train whether or not the switch properly set.

"When the switch has been properly closed, the lever L18 will be directly above and in line with the notch 17 in the platform l5 while the notch 25 in the plate 22 will be brought directly opposite the latch 57. As the operator then releases the foot pedal 62, the action of the weight G3 will cause the rotation of the shaft 58 and the latch 57 to gravitate into the notch 25 in the plate 22 and as he then releases the lever i8, the same will gravitate downwardly about its pivot 47 and engage within the notch 17. The engagement of the lever i8 in the notch 1,7 and the engagement of the latch 57 in the notch 25 of the plate 22 will thus effectively lock the parts so that the railway switch cannot be accidentally thrown.

If it is desired to securely lock the plate 22 and standard 37 against rotation,fit is only` necessary, as set forth above, to engage a suitable padlock through the eye 5l which will effectively prevent the lever 11:8 from being swung about its pivot out of engagement with the notch 17. v

For the purpose of further locking the switch, there is preferably secured within a recess in the upper surface of the bearing block 55 a plate 65, said plate being positioned immediately adjacent the latch meinber 57 and provided with an upwardly directed finger (S6 which extends beyond the said latch member and is formed with an opening 67 through which is adapted to be inserted an ordinary or preferred type of padlock. rlhis padlock will overlap the latch member 57 and thus effectively prevent the operation thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that thev latch member 57 prevents the rotation of the plate 22 and theconsequential throwing of the railway switch while the lever 48 engaging the platform 15 prevents the rotation of the standard 37. In view of this, it will be appreciated that should the upper portion of the switch stand become broken or otherwise damaged, the latch 57 will still lock the plate 22 against rotation and prevent the throwing of the switch while, should the latch 57 become inoperative, for one reason or another, the lever 48 engaging the platform l5 will prevent the rotation of the standard and the accidental throwing of the switch. Thus, a dual safety means has been provided for preventing the accidental throwing of the railway switch and that while there has been 'described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the present invention which in practice will accomplish all of those objects and perform all of the functions enumerated as being desirable in the statement of invention hereinabove set forth, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modifications in various particulars and that any such modifications as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from or sacricing the spirit. of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a supporting platform carried by said base, a member rotatably mounted upon said base, a substantially vertically disposed standard journaled in said platform, and having connection with said member, means carried by the base and movable into and out of engagementlwith the member to prevent rotary movement thereof, and means carried by said standard for cooperation with said platform for preventing rotation of the said standard.

2. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a member rotatably mounted upon said base, a pitman rod connected to and movable with said member and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway switch, a substantially vertically disposed standard rotatable with said member, and means, upon the base, movable into and out of engagement with said member for locking the same and the standard against rotary movement.

3. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a plate rotatably mounted upon said base and provided with notches, a pitman rod carried by and movable with said plate and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway switch, a sub.- stantially vertically disposed standard rotatable with said plate, a latch adapted for selective engagement with said notches whereby to lock said plate and standard in desired position, and manually operable means for moving the said latch from engagement with said notches when it is desired to rotate the said plate and standard.

4:. In a switch stand of the class described,

a base, a rotatable plate mounted upon said base and providedwith notches, afpitman rod connected with said plate and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway` switch, a latch carried by said base adjacent the said plate, means for normally holding the latch in position for selective engagement in said notches when the plate is rotated to bring the notches into alinement with said latch, and manually operable means for releasing the said latch from engagement with said notches.

5. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a rotatable plate mounted upon said base and provided with notches, a pitman rod connected with said plate and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway switch, a substantially vertically disposed standard supported by and movable with said plate, a latch carried by said base, and means for causing the latch to engage, by gravity, in the said notches when the said plate is rotated to aline the said notches with the said latch whereby to prevent the rotation of said plate and standard.

G. In a switch stand of the class described, a` base, a rotatable plate mounted upon said base and provided with notches, a pitman rod connected with said plate and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points ot a rail ay switch, a disk removably supported upon said plate and rotatable therewith, a substantially vertically disposed standard engaged with said disk, and means t'or rotating said standard whereby to impart rotary movement to the said disk and plate.

7. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a rotatable plate mounted upon said plate and provided with notches, a pitman rod connected with said plate and adapted to be suitably connecttal with the switch points ot a. railway switch. a disk removably supported upon said plate and rotatable therewith, a substantially vertically disposed standard engaged with said disk, means for rotating said standard whereby to impart rotary movement to the said disk and plate, and means carried by the base and engageable with said plate for locking the saine and the standard aginst rotation, when so desired.

8. In a` switch stand of the class described, a base, a` rotatable plate mounted upon said base and provided with notches, a. pit-man rod connected with said platel and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway switch, a disk removably supported upon said plates and rotatable therewith, a substantially vertically disposed standard engaged with said disk, means tor rotating saidv standard whereby to impart rotary movement to the said disk and plate, means releasably engageable with said plate tor preventing the rotation thereof when desired, and meaiis carried by the said standard for locking the saine against rot ation.

t). In a. switch stand ot the class described, a base, a plate rotatably connected with said base. a pitman rod carried by said plate and adapted to be connected to the switch points ot a railway switch, means upon the base. movable into and out of engagement with the plate. for preventing the rotation ol' the said plate, a substantially vertically disposed standard supported by said plate` and separate means for locking the said standard against, rotation.

l0. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a plate rotatably mounted upon said base, a disk removably supported upon said plate and rotatable therewith, a supporting?r platform also carried by said base, a substantially vertically disposed standard journaled in said platform and engageable with said disk, a pitman rod connected to and movable with said plate, and being adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points ot a railway switch, means for rotating said standard whereby rotary movement will be imparted to the said disk and plate` and means for lockingr said standard against rotary movement.

Il. In a switch stand ot' the class described, a base, a plate rotatably mounted upon said base and provided with notches, a disk removably -supported upon said plate and rotatable therewith, a supporting platform also carried by said base and prmfided with notches, a substantially vertically disposed standard journaled in said platform and engageable with said disk, a pitman rod connected to and movable with said plate and adapted to be suitably connected with the switch points of a railway switch, a latch carried by the base and adapted for selective engagement with the notches in said rotatable plate for preventing the rotation thereof, an arm -arried by said standard above said platform, and a lever pivotally carried by said arm and adapted tor selective engagement with the notches in said supportingr standard, whereby to lock the said standard against rotation when desired.

12. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a plate rotatably mounted upon said base and provided with notches, a pitman rod connected with said plate and adapted to be connected with the switch points of' a railway switch, a standard supported by and rotatable with the said plate, a shatt mounted upon the base, a latch tiXed upon the shaft. and engageable in said notches selectively when the plate is rotated to aline one or the other ot the .said notches with the latch, a lever fixed upon the said shaft, a weight upon one end ot' the lever constituting means for overbalaneing the shatt to ett'ect engagementI ot the latch in said notches, and a toot pedal carried by the lever at its other end.

13. In a switch stand of the class described, a base, a. plate rotatably mounted upon the base and provided with notches, a pitman rod connected with said plate and adapted to be connected with the switch points of a railway switch, the plate having' upstanding radially disposed lugs'upon its upper tace, a disk disposed upon the plate and having radial recesses accomunalatine# the said lugs upon the plate whereby the disk is connected with the plate for rotation therewith, a standard rotatable with the disk, and means carried by the base and engageable selectively in the notches ot the. plate for locking the plate against rotation.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

PETER FRANDSEN. 

